The Penn State School of Theatre is back on the stage this week with its adaptation of “Brigadoon”, the 1947 Broadway musical of the same name by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe.

The production follows two American travelers, Tommy and Jeff, played by Nick Brogan and Jackson Pavlik, who stumble upon the Scottish highland village of Brigadoon, a town filled with joy and shrouded in mystery.

The two metaphorically fall in love with the town, and Tommy literally falls in love with a townswoman named Fiona, played by Melody Muntz. However, things start to get interesting when they discover the town’s secret.

Ultimately, the show plays into heavy themes of community and coming together, which is a note touched on by Pavlik.

“To feel the vibrance of people working together as one, right now, is insanely powerful considering that we’ve all been cooped up inside our home for the past two years,” Pavlik said. “So not only do you get to come in and experience the joy of a new community on stage, but you also get to be a part of a new community in the audience, one again, sharing a collective moment together.”

The show is filled with vibrancy from the intricate sets and costumes to the lively music. The theatrical dedication is clear on every level, as shown by the impressive effort that went into every detail of the show.

However, one of the highlights of the show is the choreography, which combines elements of traditional Scottish dance with ballet. The combination of the two is blended seamlessly, leading to joyous group dances and somber or emotional ballet moments.

Jackson Pavlik talked about how much effort went into a show, citing how there are fewer adaptations of “Brigadoon” than shows like “Oklahoma” or “Cinderella” because of the demand required for this type of production.

“‘Brigadoon’ is not often done because it requires a lot of its chorus,” Pavlik said. “It requires a signing chorus with dancing capabilities, it requires accent work, and it requires gorgeous sets.”

Brogan, who portrays Tommy, cited how “Brigadoon” is a story that appeals to lots of people and should be enjoyed by theater lovers of all ages.

“The intricate relationships in this story transcend well past the period in which ‘Brigadoon’ was written, and I think everyone will be able to see themselves in this production.”

While playing Fiona, the production’s lead female role, Melody Munitz says “Brigadoon” should resonate with current theatre lovers today despite its decades-old source material.

“This show is a beautiful story of hope, community, and the power of love,” she said. “It’s about people healing after a period of large-scale struggles and traumas, and in our current 2022 landscape, the parallels are evident. Though this is a classic story, it’s as timely now as ever.”

“Brigadoon” is showing at the Playhouse Theatre, behind the Forum Building, starting Saturday, April 16. The show will later run every day from Tuesday, April 19, through Saturday, April 23. All shows start at 7:30 p.m. and run about 2 hours and 15 minutes long. Tickets are available online for $25.